UPDATING THE UPDATE: Doug Wilson said that a final decision hasn’t been made yet on Marty Havlat’s availability Saturday night, that the process includes face-to-face meetings between the player and training staff, and that hasn’t happened yet because Havlat is still in transit.

UPDATE: Checking for confirmation of ESPN report that Marty Havlat won’t play inthe season opener, but could be ready for second game on Oct. 14.

Still trying to figure out how to balance the blog and the Twitter universe before dealing with the print edition.

Advertisement

News of the day is there won’t be any news on Martin Havlat’s availability for opening night on Saturday.

GM Doug Wilson said Havlat wasn’t getting back from his trip to Cleveland until tonight, and until they talked, nothing would be forthcoming.

Either way, his coach didn’t sound too worried.

“If his doctor says he needs a little more time, we can live with that,” Todd McLellan said, noting the long break between the first and second games of the season.

“Where he maybe hoped to fit in last year, I think he believes he can fit in now,” the coach said. “And that’s a huge difference in the confidence level.”

Advertisement

Added McLellan: “The way he’s played throughout the exhibition season, he’s earned the opportunity to compete here.”

Wingels, who led the Sharks with three pre-season goals, said he benefited from his five-game taste of NHL action last season.

“I got to see how the best players in the world be the first and last ones off the ice,” he said. “It really hit me that I had to work harder this summer.”

*****Antti Niemi did not take part in today’s practice, but McLellan played down his goaltender’s absence.

“Sometimes just a rest is a good thing as well. We had two really long practices in the days prior,” McLellan said, adding he didn’t believe today was a setback.

McLellan did say he wanted to know Friday whether it would be Niemi or Thomas Greiss in net the next night against Phoenix.

*****Both Niemi and Havlat were “non-roster” players on the official roster that Wilson had to file with the NHL by noon. But that allows for day-to-day movement, the GM said, and either could be in the lineup Saturday night.

Frazer McLaren is in that same category as well as James Sheppard and Antero Niittymaki, but expect to see the latter two parked on an injured player list soon.

The Sharks did reassign Mike Moore (who had to clear waivers) and Cam MacIntyre to Worcester, leaving these 21 names on the roster for now:

*****Finally, Handzus and Mitchell have been given extra responsibility for the team’s penalty kill unit as the Sharks look to improve on the 24th place finish of last season.

“It’s their team within a team,” McLellan said. “They’re in charge of it, they’re going to take the pulse.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

Looking forward to see how the PK will take shape this year. Definitely does need improvement from last year’s.

Bummed I can’t make it to Saturday’s game, but I will definitely be following along!

Andrew

David – can they put a link on the right side of the blog to your Twitter feed? Thanks.

Martin Brody

I see most hockey experts in the media are picking the Sharks to finish first in the Pacific Division and first overall in the entire NHL. I am going to stick my neck out here and pick the LA Kings to finish first in the Pacific Division. Please don’t hate me because my prediction is not what you want to hear.

Adam

First of all, I am not a doctor I just play one on TV

BUT if Halvat has to take a cross country flight to get examined to determine if he is ready doesn’t that mean he isn’t ready enough.

Given the fact, the Sharks have an extra week off between games doesn’t it make sense just to sit him and get the extra week off.

I would like him to play but would rather be cautious with him given his history.

Can’t wait to be there for opening night!!

SharksFan_OtayRanch

Martin which “hockey experts” are you referencing? I’m seeing quite a few of these experts pick the Kings out of the Pacific and the Hawks out of the West…

GR

martin…we hated you long before your prediction

sharksfan

What does it matter where the Sharks finish in the regular season. As long as they win the whole thing come playoff time.

Predictions are fun to read but useless in the grand scheme of things. It doesn’t take into account of injuries, matchups, s&! happens.

I’d rather have Sharks finish a lower seed and sneak up on a few teams come playoff time, than be the favorite and then be upset.

The West is very very difficult to not only make the playoffs but to make it out of the Conference. In addition to San Jose, Detroit, Chicago, Vancouver and LA are all legit contenders at least on paper from the start of the season.

Keep’n It Real

SharksFan_OtayRanch – 3 ESPN “experts” predicted the Sharks to win the cup (5 predicted the Sharks winning the Pacific), SI.com predicts the Sharks to win the Pacific, and FOXsports seems to pick them to win the West too.

This year feels different than years past. The Sharks have always been good, but with the blueline being beefed up and the offense backfilled with very suitable replacements (for Seto/Heatley)…I have a very good feeling about this season. Trust me…I am as tempered with my enthusiasm as it gets. I just have this feeling…

g-bum-man

GR….good one liner–served up to you on a platter.

I predict that the Sharks will raise ticket prices…oh, they already did that. OK–see how clairvoyant I am?

Hold on–let nostradomus work.

Prediction:
If the ticket prices have gone up, doesn’t that mean the team is better? I have read several “economist’s” predictions about team performance being related to the amount of the team salary, and team salary being a reflection of the amount of talent purchased. So that means if ticket prices hae been raised, then the talent level for the Sharks has also been raised, and if the talent level has risen, and we made it to the conference finals last year, then logically, we will make it to the Cup finals this year.

See? Nobody has to worry–it is a lock!!! Bet everything you own!!!

If I am wrong, though, just blame Martin Brody.

Martin Brody

House Rule: Don’t engage in personal attacks.

Motion to ban GR, g-bum-man

Martin Brody

House Rule: [B]Don’t engage in personal attacks.[/B]

Motion to ban GR, g-bum-man

Adam

From ESPN

Am told Havlat (shoulder) will miss opener for Sharks on Saturday. Team has week off between games 1-2. Could be ready for Game 2

David Pollak

Adam,

Pierre LeBrun is a very reliable source and I’ve got no reason to doubt him on this.

But even so, I’m checking with both the Sharks and Havlat’s agent for confirmation.

David

Z.SharkRA

If we banned everyone who’s engaged in ‘personal attacks’ there’d be no one left on this bloggie-woggie. There are many old-fashioned thinkers on here, I love the Sharks enuff to put up with (those who shall not be named – you know who you are!) the dumb-ass stuff that some people (who should be in therapy) blather on about… 😉

Z.SharkRA

GO SHARKS!!! New Season – opener is like christmas morning! Delightful present to see the boyz play for realz!!! GSDI!!!

Sj Shark Fan!

What is the hurry in bring in Halvlat? Let him play when he is ready. 100% not 90% he could be an important player in the last quarter of the season.
Let go sharks!!

JB

I’m anxious to see this year’s Sharks too, but that (ridiculously long) layoff between the first and second game is time that should not be wasted if Havlat needs it. It’s a long season.

Shark Fin Soup

I’m excited about the bigger, tougher D as well. It also seems that we got a bit tougher up front with the addition of Handzus and Winchester. If the third line handles their assignment well, I’ll be very, very surprised if the Sharks don’t take it all!!

Sharkfsn

Ok, mitchie, don’t take penalties while killing penalty like you did in game 4 against Vancouver that started the downfall.

Shark Fin

Can’t wait. For all the time we/I have spent focusing on who will make the 3rd and 4th lines, it’s easy to forget that Couture and Clowe now have a season of chemistry under their belt and that Pavs will be on the top line.

Wonder if injuries happen if we have enough picks and cap room to sign someone worthy of second line duty…

Love that our D is bigger and we have another puck moving D man.

GP

DP, idea on the Twitter and blog synergy….my thought is for you to find out if you can update this blog via twitter — a la, they will happen at the same time.

Then, simply update the blog entry to give more complete info.

I’m not sure how feasible it is with Twitter/Wordpress and especially with your co-workers in IT/Web services.

NickG

GP: It’s definitely possible, super easy, and even easier if you go from WordPress and have it autopost to Twitter. However, your reference to the team behind these blogs… yea, it’s probably not possible.

icehawkey

Ok Sharks have one of, if thee, best group of DMen in NHL (on paper). They have size speed hitting scoring puck moving and even depth. This should make team even more formiddable than last year. We upgraded in Havlat over Heatly so we have arguably best Top Six Forwards in NHL. We have goalie who won cup 2 yrs ago and should be more comfortable in system now. We have a face off winning hustle guy that plays all special teams in Handzus and big strong tough guy that can actually score in Winchester to bolster bottom six forwards. On Paper Sharks are probably the best team in the league. The big question mark is do they have a coach that can pull the right strings? Last year he couldnt get them to play well consistently for first few months of season. Then he overworked many, if not all of them trying to climb the standings. This led to injury and fatigue. He failed to eassily Dispatch a beat up Kings team, nearly blow a 3 game lead to the Wings and then get out everythinged by Nucks. Two yrs ago we didnt quite have the goaltending. DW got the cup winning goalie. Last year it was defense. DW upgraded with 3 awesome additions. Its really on McLellan now. If he cant at least get 12 wins in playoffs (i would say 16 if I was GM) with this Arsenal he should be gone and replaced by a coach with a ring. Perhaps Todd has matured and learned lessons and will employ a hockey system that suits his teams talent and particular skill set and he will show he has as much talent as his players by getting the most out of them. I havent seen it so far but Im giving DW the benefit of the doubt here. He hired him and for some reason hasnt fired him yet so perhaps this is the year he gets his shit together and isnt outcoached for a third straight season. I am rooting for TMac to shine and The Sharks to win the cup. With this roster, barring extreme injury bug, The Sharks should at LEAST win the West.

theOldeReprobate

Sharkfsn re Mitchell penalties v. Vancouver –
If I remember correctly (I’ve erased my DVR copies of the games) that penalty was an appalling embellishment by one of the Sedin twins who held Mitchell’s stick in his midsection then fell down.

In fact if I remember correctly twice, 2 of the 3 5-on-3 penalties were terrible calls on embellishments. The refs wizened up and didn’t fall for it during the finals, although the Sharks paid the price for their education. Can’t blame ‘Mitchie’ for those dives.

cap-o-113

Wondering if Wingels selects #16 since Seto has vacated that number?

Tom

Here’s a link to an an article by Ken Dryden (HoF goalie for you younger folks who don’t recognize the name).

I hope the link works as it’s a very thoughtful piece on head injuries in hockey and football. Something to think about. One of Dryden’s points is that it’s time to get past the macho, “hockey isn’t for sissies” mentallity (my characterization, not Dryden’s).

g-bum-man

Martin Brody—FYI I wasn’t actually meaning to attack you personally–just flipping you a a little crap. It is called “ribbing someone”. I don’t think GR is REALLY serious about his/her comment either–but I can only speak for myself.

I tend to mock anyone that takes themselves and their opinions too seriously–and can take the heat when it is directed back at me.

Onward–!

At this point, it seems that resting Havalt until game 2 is a no brainer–since there is a week in between. It would suck to bring him back a little too soon and have him suffer a setback. Caution is the better part of valor. Plus, Wingels would get great experience–AND we are playing a pretty weak Coyotes team. Let him sit for the opener.

g-bum-man

“Havlat” ooops–“Havalt” is Martin’s distant cousin–who is good at chopping wood, but bad at hockey.

1SHXFAN

WINGLES!!!!!!!!! “LIKE” GO SHARKS!!! WILL BE THERE WITH BELLS ON SAT!!

Martin Brody

@24 theOldeReprobate says:
Sharkfsn re Mitchell penalties v. Vancouver –
If I remember correctly (I’ve erased my DVR copies of the games) that penalty was an appalling embellishment by one of the Sedin twins who held Mitchell’s stick in his midsection then fell down.

In fact if I remember correctly twice, 2 of the 3 5-on-3 penalties were terrible calls on embellishments. The refs wizened up and didn’t fall for it during the finals, although the Sharks paid the price for their education. Can’t blame ‘Mitchie’ for those dives.
__________________________________________________
Wrong, I will correct your mistakes. It was NOT one of the Sedins, it was Ryan Kesler. The stick was horizontal hooking him across his mid section. He held it a bit with a chicken wing like hold. The idea was not to put yourself in a situation where the referee was forced to make a judgement call. It was game 4 and the power plays were all one-sided up to the middle of seocnd period. We had about 5 or 6 powerplays up to that point. And then the calls started to go against us, the penalty killers thought it was a good idea to take more blatant penalties while we were short handed. The referees had no choice but to call them and they were all good calls, absolutely no embellishments. We lost game 4 because we couldn’t score on our powerplays and we couldn’t kill off our penalties. Of course it was easy to blame the refs.

Also, the refs didn’t call a single penalty in the Tampa Bay vs Boston Game 7 even though clearly Tampa had the better powerplay in that series. It was so obvious to any observers not involved with either teams. Also several questionable calls against Montreal in their game 7 against Boston. Hindsight is always 20/20, but we should have picked up Gregory Campbell last year for our fourth line. I believe Brendan Shanahan will do a much better job this year.

What an INCREDIBLY refreshing piece listed here on Hemmings Daily! I’m so sick and tired of content articles about simply how much this car sold for at auction and exactly how a lot that barn find’ might promote for at auction and just the overall greedy tones countless of those articles come with… This is certainly what Authentic car guys are about when you receive down for the nuts and bolts.